Victory for Visma on stage 1 of 4 Jours du Dunkerque! Axel Zingle powers to second win of the season

There has been a much needed victory for Team Visma | Lease a Bike on the opening stage of the 2025 4 Jours du Dunkerque after winter signing Axel Zingle powered to the win in a sprint.

A breakaway of six riders getting up the road relatively early on, including notable names such as Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers), Gil Gelders (Soudal - Quick-Step) and Per Strand Hagenes (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), all among the attackers. As the break entered the final circuit with around 35-40km to go, their advantage over the peloton was still strong - more than 2:30 clear of the peloton.

As the peloton began to properly step things up though, by 20km to go, the break's lead had been cut to 1:25, setting up an exciting finale. By 10km, the lead hat been slashed again to just over 30 seconds and the writing seemed on the wall for the attackers, and with 6km to go they were all caught by the peloton. With the sprint finish then all but secured, the fight for victory saw Axel Zingle open things up and the Team Visma | Lease a Bike star was not passed in the finale either, holding on for victory ahead of Tobias Lund Andresen and Stian Fredheim.